Support for telephone hand sets



Nov. 5, 1935 t UNITEDIYSTATES PATENT OFFICE 'iClaims.

This invention relates, generally speaking, to devices for facilitating the support of telephone hand sets upon the head of the user in such manner as to leave both oi.- his hands free for other purposes.

Telephone desk sets which are now extensive- 1y used embody, generally speaking, a suitable but have been open to one pronounced objection,

namely, that the hand set must be held in proper proximity to the head of the user. Generally this is accomplished by holding the hand set in one of the operator's hands, thus leaving only one hand free to handle papers, books, or other matter to which he may desire to refer during the telephone conversation. Expedients have heretofore been suggested for supporting a hand set wholly on the head of the user, but these can-- pedients have invariably been of a cumbersome nature and have failed to meet the requirements of a proper support for the hand set. In some instances they have been so constituted that the user is required to move the head out of an abnormal and into a strained position which is not only tiresome but inconvenient.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages and to provide a simple and-eiilcient mechanism comfortable to wear and readily placed on the head or removed therefrom and which when in place will properly support the hand set in an easy and convenient position with the receiver against the ear and thetransmitter in .proper cooperative relation tothemouth.

. An important practical feature .of the invention residesnot only in its simplicity, but in the firm and rigid manner in which the hand set may be supported for. universal movement'- in or- "der to permit its regulation into a convenient and satisfactory position without necessitating turning ofthe "head or moving-the sameinto a strained or abnormal position. 1 This feature of the invention, fundamentally requires afirm atl tachment of the devicetoithe hand set in suchmanner that, when adjusted, it will stay in the position in which it is placed and will not tend to move therefrom.

A further feature of the invention consists in a novel and eflicient head band construction with 8 the universal joint connection between the head bands and a supporting hanger by which the head bands are secured to the hand set.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing the head bands with a novel form of 10 terminal member having associated therewith an ear pad adapted to cover the ear opponte to that with which the receiver is associated in such manner as to exclude outside noises and to thereby permit the telephone conversation to be more readily carried on.

Features of the invention, other'than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and-claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is tobe understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the supp rt of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the supporting hanger of this invention with the universal joint which'is associated therewith shown in section 80 and the parts disconnected from one another to more clearly illustrate the structure. .-In this view, the hand set is shown in phantom to show the manner in which the supporting hanger is attached thereto in a ilrm and positive way. 85

Figure 3 is a fragmental section on the line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates generally a conventional form of telephone hand set, the same em dyin a handle portion 2 at one 4 end of which is mounted a receiver 3 and at the other end of which is supported a transmitter 4.

5 designates the supporting hanger of this invention. It is made of resilient material in the form of a loop 5 providedat its lower end with depending and laterally extending resilient clamping jaws 6. The upper ends of the material forming the loop are brought together, preferably swedged in the circular cross section and attached to a spherical portion or ball 1. s

The loop 5 and the jaws 6 are of resilient material so that they may be sprung into engage-v ment with the telephone hand set as shown in Figure 2. The loop 5 is so proportioned that it will snugly embracethe shank 8 at the base of the receiver in a manner to firmly and securely hold the same, while the spring clamping jaws 6 are so shaped and proportioned that they may 'be sprung over the handle adjacent the shank I, as shown in Figure 2. The loop I and the jaws 6 thus grip the hand set in right angular relation to one another and are thus able to support the hand set on the hanger in any angular position without any chance of the hand set twisting in the hanger or changing position with relation thereto.

The material from which the hanger is formed is made heavy enough to carry all the strains and stresses to which it may be subjected and it nevertheless possesses sufficient inherent resiliency to grip the hand set tightly in the manner described.

The ball I to which I have referred constitutes one element of a ball and socket joint. The socket member is designated 0 and is provided with a concave seat It for the reception of the ball I. The upper portion of the socket 9 is interiorly threaded to receive a threaded plug II, the end of which is also formed with a seat I2 to cooperate with the ball I. Above the threaded part I l, the plug is provided with a knurled flange it which may be readily gripped to facilitate the screwing in of the plug in order to clamp the ball between the seats Ill and I! with sufiicient friction to preclude inadvertent shifting in this joint. Thus the hanger may be adjusted into the position desired and the plug screwed tightly into place to set up sufllcient friction to preclude further relative movement or the hanger. The plug is is provided at its top with a lug ll perforated at I! to receive a rivet l6 and this rivet passes through one end of each of two resilient bands H. The opposite ends of the bands I! extend into tubular resilient bands IS in a telescoping manner, so as to permit of adjustment of the head bands and the opposite ends of the tubular bands are pivotally secured by means of a rivet I! to a band terminal 20, having a laterally extending finger piece 2|, preferably perforated as shown at 22, so that it may be readily gripped to,permit the head bands to be positioned on or removed from the head. The rivet It! also serves to hold in place an ear pad 23 comprising a disk 24, the inner face of which is padded as shown at 25. The disk is mounted on the rivet is of! center, so that when it is swung down into the position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 3 it may cover one ear of the wearer, but, if desired, it may be swung up on the rivet into the dotted line position of Figure 3, so as to uncover said ear.

In use the head bands are properly adjusted by telescoping them as desired to properly flt the head of the user and they are sufiiciently resilient to cause them to clamp firmly over the head with the ear pad 23 over one ear or the wearer and the transmitter 3 of the telephone hand set against the free car of the wearer. The universal joint comprising the ball and socket joint may be adjusted to place the instrument in proper cooperative relation to the ear and mouth of the user and further adjustment, if any be desired, may be had by pivotally moving the ball and socket joint on the rivet I. In this way, the instrument is mounted for universal movement and may be brought into just the-position desired to give the most comfort and operate to the best results.

It should be noted that in the device of this invention. the instrument is rigidly secured to a single hanger and that the hanger is mounted for universal adjustment, but may be clamped rigidly when adjusted as desired. The device is readily put on or taken off and when not in use does not interfere with the positioning of the hand set I upon the usual base of a telephone desk set. The structure is such moreover that it may be economically manufactured andinuse will be thor- 5 oughly efiicient and comfortable to wear.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims. 10

Having thus fully described theinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone instrument support embodying a plurality of resilient head bands adapted to par- 15 tially embrace and grip the head of the wearer,

a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely conform to and embrace a portion of a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver and one end of which loop is provided with laterally extending resilient 20 gripping jaws to embrace the handle of the hand set in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction in which the loop embraces said hand set, and a universal joint connecting the hanger and head bands to adjustably support the hanger 25 and hand set mounted thereon with respect to the head bands.

2. A telephone instrument support embodying a plurality of resilient head bands adapted to partially embrace and grip the head of the wearer, a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely conform to and embrace a portion of a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver and one end of which loop is provided with laterally extending resilient gripping jaws to embrace the handle of the hand set in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction in which the. loop embraces said hand set, and a regulable universal joint connecting the hanger and head bands to adjustab y support the hanger and hand set mounted thereon 40 with respect to the head bands, said universal joint being regulable as stated to lock the hanger in predetermined relation with respect thereto.

3. In an assembly of the character described,

a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely 5 embrace and grip a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver thereof, said loop having secured thereto opposed resilient clamping jaws projecting in a lateral direction to closely embrace the handle of the hand set and to cooperate with60 theloopinflrmlysecuringthehangertothe hand set, a .ball and socket joint, the ball element of which is seemed to the loop and the socket element of which is made in two parts adjustably secured to one another and collectively engaging the ball with variable tension depending upon the adjustment of said parts, and a head band secured to the socket element and. adapted topartiallyembracetheheadofauserandresiliently free the same for the purpose ofsup- 00 porting the hand set in cooperative relation with one ear and mouth of the user.

4. In an assembly of the character described, a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely embrace and grip a telephone hand set adjacent 65 the receiver thereof, said loop having secured thereto opposed resilient clamping jaws projecting in a lateral direction to closely embrace the handle of the hand set and to cooperate with the loop in firmly securingthe hanger tothe'm hand set, a ball and socket joint, the ball element of whichis securedtothe loop and'the socket element of which is made in two parts adjustablysecured to one another and collectively engaging the ball'with variable tension de-ll pending upon the adjustment or said parts, and a head band secured to the socket element and adapted to partially embrace the head or a user and resiliently free the same for the purpose of supporting the hand set in cooperative relation with one ear and mouth or the user, said head band being provided at its free end with an ear pad adapted to overlie the other ear or the user.

5. In an assembly of the character described, a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely embrace and grip a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver thereof, said loop having secured thereto opposed resilient clamping jaws projecting in a lateral direction to closely embrace the handle of the hand set and to cooperate with the loop in firmly securing the hanger to the hand set, a resilient head band adapted to partially embrace and grip the head oi a user and a universal joint connection between the hanger and the head band to adjustably support the hanger on the head band.

6. In an assembly of the character described, a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely embrace and grip a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver thereof, said loop having secured thereto opposed resilient clamping jaws projecting in a lateral direction to closely embrace the handle of the hand set and to cooperate with the loop in firmly securing the hanger to the hand set, a resilient head band ada ted to partially embrace and grip the head a user and a uni versal joint connection between the hanger and the head band to adjustably support the hanger on the head band, said head band embodying 5 resilient telescoping members to permit of adiustment or the head band to the head of the wearer.

7. In an assembly of the character described, a hanger comprising a loop shaped to closely embrace and grip a telephone hand set adjacent the receiver thereof, said loophaving secured thereto opposed resilient clamping jaws projecting in a lateral direction to closely embrace the handle of the hand set and to cooperate with the loop in firmly securing the hanger to the hand set, a resilient head band adapted to partially embrace and grip the head of a user and a universal joint connection between the hanger and the head band to adjustably support the hanger on the head band, said head band embodying resilient telescoping members to permit of adjustment of the head band to the head of the wearer, and a finger piece secured to the free end of said head band to permit the same to be grasped in positioning the head band on or removing the same from the head.

MARIE A. SIDDERS. 

